Director at SafeGuard Your Soul

Tag: religion

Jesus remains WITHDRAWN for four days and lets Satan and his power of death (Heb 2:14) do all he can do. Jesus Christ takes the blame from Martha for what Satan has done.

His purpose in doing so is REDEMPTIVE: to glorify His Father by raising Lazarus before a great crowd of people and “loose” Lazarus from his bindings which symbolize our bondage to sin, self, fear of death, the law and Satan’s power.

God GRIEVES and SUFFERS from the US as we suffer and die at Satan’s hands. “Jesus wept.”

God allows Satan to suffer an aikido-like SELF-DESTRUCTIVE effect by allowing Satan to kill thereby facilitating the glory of God and our freedom from bondage, like Lazarus, thru the cross!!

Todd Tomasella: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Notice in the passage above how “power” and “love” and a “sound mind” are coupled with not slandering or receiving and joining in with the persecution of a brother or sister in Christ.

May God bless each of us to walk in the wisdom of the whole counsel of His Word (James 1:5; Proverbs 8; James 3:17-18, etc.).

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:17-18

Here the great apostle of Christ is in jail where he wrote this from. And, obviously, some were using his jail sentence against him. So, Paul tells his understudy Timothy, not to be ashamed of him because he’s being persecuted.

The Bible tells us that when we walk in God’s love through intimate union with Christ, even “a multitude” of the sins of others will be covered.

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

Case in Point

“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” 1 Timothy 5:19

Todd Tomasella: Note closely in the above verse, that we are not to receive any accusation against one of Christ’s elders (or any believer for that matter) without at least two actual WITNESSES. Did you catch that? Not two spreaders of slander but two people who actually WITNESSED the supposed matter/violation. Do you see the difference?

You see, we all know that one person, one devil, can accuse a brother or sister or something and then other pawns can spread the mere fabricated lie. Those are not witnesses. Those are simply people who are spreading a lie.

A man who is an elder received vicious slanderous accusations about another brother (who is a preacher). When he is “concern” contacted me about that brother, I refused his cause against that brother and told him that I have no evidence or sense that such is true about that brother and outrightly stand with that brother and against this fabricated slander. And, I stated to him that I supposed that those slanderous things came from Satan’s very children (namely jezebels). My concern then became about this accusing “elder” who would dare buy into such fabricated slander. Red flags. Paul the apostle of Christ, who was persecuted unto prison (chained down behind bars), said to Timothy:

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” 2 Timothy 1:8

The next time we hear slander about a known brother or sister, like something that they did in the past (SUPPOSEDLY), let us remember the verse above and memorize it and the address of it. Let us also be filled with joy that the brother or sister being persecuted by slander must be making a great impact for Christ and against the kingdom of hell!!!!!

Now THAT’S how we need to field these things. Is this not the kingdom perspective?!

Our concern actually needs to be about ourselves if we are never slandered or maligned, lied about or persecuted in any way. According to Jesus, if we are not being assaulted, we are not “blessed” according to His divine definition and should be greatly concerned and driven to fall afresh on His mercy at the foot of the cross before it’s too late.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you FALSELY, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Okay, someone may say, “WAIT, what if what people are saying about that person is TRUE?!??!!!”

Reply: DID God’s plan to crucify His only begotten Son not include forgiveness AT and AFTER He saved an individual?

If you for a moment believe a Christian can’t be forgiven of any and all sin, you have elevated sin above the blood of Christ’s cross and are in serious trouble spiritually.

If a man stands solidly on both feet in divine truth and publicly declares it, you can know of a certainty that such a man of God WILL ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT FAIL to be assaulted by “evil men” and jezebels. Remember God’s prophet Elijah and how jezebel fumed in hatred over him and swore to take his life? (1 Kings 18-19)

In fact, gentlemen, if we aren’t being lied about, assaulted, shunned, and horrifically slandered, we may wish to examine our own lives – their root in Christ and subsequent fruitfulness.

Question: Who needs to be worried?

Answer: NOT the fruitful, persecuted true disciples of Jesus but rather those who are not being fruitful and therefore attacked.

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

Of course, not all sinners will hate us. Yet, the point is, if we receive no persecution, including those which Jesus specifically cites, what does that tell us of our lack of union with He who was persecuted unto crucifixion?

The Revelation 12:10 phrase “accuser of the brethren (Satan)” fits well here and that’s because these are true disciples of Jesus being falsely accused, not the wolves of Satan. Usually, that verse is taken out of context to cover for and defend absolute wolves who pose as Christ’s ministers while misleading and damning many (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). May we study God’s Word for ourselves and thereby gain a biblical clue!

Who did Jesus say is blessed? Listen to the Lamb:

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:21-26

From our LORD’s teaching here and elsewhere, conversely those who should fear for their eternal souls: are not poor in spirit, are full and not charitable to others (givers), not hated, not separated by joined with apostates and sinners, not reproached, whose names aren’t ridiculed and mocked, laughing and having no troubles due to truly following Christ.

—– Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant my heart to be clean of all self-righteousness and an evil eye and that You would allow Your love in me to overlook the multitude of sins in others. Bless me to know that no one on this planet is less worthy of Your sheer mercy, saving than myself. Grant that my heart be broken, humble, and set upon serving You and others. You have not given Your people the spirit of fear but rather of power, love, and a sound mind. Bless me to never be ashamed of your beloved saints as they suffer slanderous persecution and imprisonment in this brief journey leading up to our eternity with You! Instead, use me to pray for aid, and comfort them in any way possible! Thank You this moment LORD, for multiplying Your wisdom to my heart and life, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

More on Persecution here. | More on Self-Righteousness Here.

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on the Moments for My Master e-mail devotional list. In supplementation to your personal daily study of God’s Word, we would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (Jn. 5:39; 1 Tim. 4:6, 16; Heb. 5:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:2).

Isaiah’s vision of the cross. Isaiah 22

Todd tomasella: Is 22 begins with the vision of Isaiah, where there is a coming judgment of Judah. All spiritual vision comes to us when we are in a valley of trouble, destruction and despair. This is the experience of the cross of Christ.

Isaiah 22:6-8

6 And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.

7 And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.

8 And he discovered the covering of (removed the protection of) Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.

The Lord had called the people of Judah to weeping, mourning, baldness, stripping and sackcloth. These are all foreshadowing of times when we are called to take up the cross. The people of Judah refused the cross of mourning and stripping and chose for self and self-indulgence instead.

Todd tomasella said that this chapter is a picture of the key doctrine of the message of the cross named “redemptive withdrawal.” God removes His protective hand and turns the people of Judah over to the destructive hands of enemies, Elam and Kir. See verse 4 quoted above. God weeps for His people when turning over to the enemy has to occur. 22:4.

We are always being handed over to death for Jesus sake in order that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal bodies. 2 Cor 4:11. This is Redemptive Withdrawal.

Isaiah 22:12-14.

12 And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

13 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die

14 And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you TILL YE DIE, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

There had to be a death to purge them of their wickedness. This is a foreshadowing of our own need to experience the cross in order to die to self, to be purged, purified, sifted, sanctified and grow in grace.

Shebna, steward or treasurer of the house of Judah, a type of Satan, had become the head of the house of Judah. So God told Isaiah to go and say some things to Shebna. See the 5 verses below:

Isaiah 22:15-19.

V15. Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,

16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?

17 Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.

18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house.

V18 is a foreshadowing of Satan’s self-destruction at the cross. John 12:31. Satan was and is being violently cast out by his own act of violence against Jesus at the cross. God’s only violent act of all time is the cross of Christ. At Calvary, Satan “hewed him out” his own burial place in the Rock, Christ crucified. See v16 above.

Is 22:19. “And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.” Satan and all his arrogant followers are taken down from the throne of self-thru the destruction of the cross of Calvary.

The remaining verses in Is 22 are about Eliakim, a type of Christ, who will come and take over Satan’s house and kingdom thru the cross. The whole thing, Satan’s position, his fallen angel followers, his possessions and his people (the entire “old man”) will “hang” with Christ when Jesus is nailed to that “sure place” at Calvary. All of Satan’s kingdom will be “cut off” thru the cross. The key of government which is put on Eliakim’s shoulders is the cross that Jesus shouldered and took up, for us and as us. The entire old man was crucified with Christ. Rom 6:6. Satan and his fallen angels were stripped off and spoiled at the cross. Col 2:15. Their stripping and spoiling of Jesus was His stripping and spoiling of them. Satan was defanged by his own act at Calvary. 1 Cor 2:6-8; Heb 2:14. The door way of the cross is a door which only Christ can open and shut.

Isaiah 22:20-25.

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:

21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house.

24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.

25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

To summarize, God removed His protective cover off of Judah and allowed Elam and Judah to attack. Shebna, a type of Satan, the steward and head of the house of Judah, was destroyed thru the attack of Judah by these enemies. Eliakim, type of Jesus, was hung and the entire weight of Shebna’s and Judah’s glory was taken down with Him forever at Calvary.

The valley of vision is a prophecy of Christ crucified, a death that “destroyed the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8.

This is a Paramount Biblical Truth – Please Grab it, No Matter Where You are today! Know This: Jesus loves you and Died to Save You – He Gave His Very Life on that Cross to Make You His Own.

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

“Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11

Choosing to Hear the Word of Your Maker

“He that is of God hearth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47

Jesus makes it clear to us that if we hear and hearken to His words, we are truly in and of Him. If not, we’re not truly in Him. He loves you. Jesus beckons you:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

IT MAY REFRESH YOU TO KNOW THAT THE SON OF GOD DID NOT COME TO THE EARTH TO START A RELIGION OR MAKE YOU RELIGIOUS. HE IS THE DIAMETRICAL, SWORN ENEMY OF RELIGION AND HOW IT MISREPRESENTS HIM (MATTHEW 23). NO, INSTEAD, JESUS CAME TO FREELY FORGIVE AND GIVE YOU A NEW LIFE – A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

IF you avoid, push away from, and shun the light of truth, it’s because your heart is not turned over to Christ – no matter what mere “form of godliness” you have in your life (2 Cor 3:14-16; 2 Timothy 3:5). When you truly turn your heart over to Jesus, the darkness will be vanquished by He who the “light of the world.” (John 8:12)

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it (the heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail (darkness, deception) shall be taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:14-16

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

It’s only by Christ’s light – when we turn our hearts to Him truly, transparently – that all darkness is eradicated.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followed me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

“Then Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” John 12:35

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Ephesians 5:8

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 1 John 1:6

Those who are not walking in truth – holding themselves accountable to it, are shunning the light of Christ to their own demise and ultimate damnation.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (stories, story tellers).” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Without exception, when a man authentically loves the LORD, he loves truth and allows that divine truth to change His heart and life.

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

PRAYER: Holy Father in Heaven, in the name of the very light of the world Himself – the LORD Jesus Christ, I come to you humbly. Today is my day to be changed from the inside out by you. I hear your call. I told you more than once that I wanted your will alone in my life. You heard that and are hastening me to thyself – to your love, truth, and safety – my only hiding place, here and forever. Right this very moment, if never before, I lay my life into your holy hands, receiving your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and the infusement of your love. In this very instant, I worship you alone LORD Jesus, my LORD, my only Savior, and my God. Please fill this vessel afresh for your eternal glory, for truly I am crucified with You Jesus and raised up by you alone and for your glory alone, from this moment forward. I’m all Yours LORD Jesus and you’re all mine. I love You Jesus and thank You for finding and saving my sinful, wretched soul into your kingdom family. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Now, if you prayed that beloved…. Listen to this song below. Listen to your Father’s message to you. Your life is over and His has begun and will prominently reign in you from here forth said by Todd tomasella.

Poor Hagar! No wonder that she fled. Her proud Arab independence and the sense of coming motherhood made her rebel against Sarah’s hard dealings. We have often meditated flight, if we have not actually fled from intolerable conditions. Of course, when God opens the door out of a dungeon we need not hesitate, as Peter did, to rise and follow. But this is very different to flight from the post of duty.

Our Cross. – For Hagar, Sarah; for Hannah, Penninah; for David, Joab; for Jesus, Judas; for Paul, Alexander the coppersmith. Life assumes hard and forbidding aspects. Sometimes the cross is not a person, but a trial, the pressure of a slow and lingering disease; the demand for grinding and persistent toil; the weight of overmastering anxiety for those dearer than life, who have no knowledge of God.

Our Demeanor. – Return and submit. We are apt to suppose that we shall get rest and peace elsewhere. It is not so, however. Nowhere else shall we find the path less rugged, or the pillow less hard? To evade the yoke will not give us hearts-ease. The Master’s advice is that we shall take His yoke, and bear it as He did; remain where God has put us, till He shows us another place; and bear what He ordains and permits, even though it comes through the means of others. Our Faith. – We cannot patiently submit to our lot unless we believe that what God permits is as much His will as what He appoints. Behind Sarah’s hard dealings we must behold His permissive providence. Through all the discipline of life we must believe that God has a purpose of unfailing love and wisdom. Then our submission is not stoicism, but loving acquiescence in our Father’s will.

There are only two true religions. One is the Way, the Truth and the Life through Jesus Christ. The other is the message from the serpent that showed up in the Garden of Eden. Look at these photos of where Buddhism came from. They don’t even try to hide it. The illumination they receive comes from the serpent.

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:1-5

MANKIND is utterly depraved, sinful, and separated from God. He cannot redeem Himself. We have all sinned against out Maker who is the Judge of our eternal souls. We shall all stand before Him to give full account of our lives.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” 1 Timothy 2:5

Christianity honors the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His merit alone! All other religions are works-based and therefore antichrist, counterfeit, false (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). ANYthing put in place of CHRIST is antichrist. Antichrist = in place of Christ.

Posts navigation

About Me

Todd Tomasella is a Author of several enlightening and influential books on subjects ranging from false prophets, end times, the original lie of Satan to mankind, evangelism, last day / end times victory, and the daily walk of an authentic disciple. Todd’s books can be found on BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, and on SafeGuardYourSoul.com.